Tinotenda Hove- Businessman Wicknell Chivayo met President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House on Tuesday, shortly after the Head of State resumed official duties following his annual leave.

Although details of the meeting were not immediately made public, Chivayo took to Facebook to confirm the engagement and to publicly welcome the President back to work in a celebratory and symbolic message that quickly drew attention online.
“WELCOME BACK TO WORK SHUMBA… The Captain is BACK and the SHIP is STEADY as His Excellency President E. D. Mnangagwa officially resumed duty last week after his annual leave. RE-ENERGIZED and ready to steer the nation forward,” Chivayo wrote.

Describing the meeting as an honour, the businessman praised Mnangagwa’s leadership qualities. “It was an honour to meet His Excellency upon his return, a DISTINGUISHED leader whose calm and STRATEGIC mind never rests even when he does,” he said.

Chivayo used the occasion to express strong support for the government’s economic roadmap, particularly the Second Phase of the National Development Strategy II (NDS II), which he described as pivotal in achieving Vision 2030.

“As 2026 unfolds, we step boldly into the SECOND PHASE of the National Development Strategy II, which is a critical bridge between the foundation laid under NDS I and the full realisation of VISION 2030. This is the phase of ACCELERATION characterized by infrastructure EXPANSION, energy security, industrial revival, mining value-addition and large-scale agricultural MODERNIZATION,” he wrote.

He added: “Under His Excellency’s steady COMMAND, the achievement of an upper-middle-income economy is inevitable and GUARANTEED.”

The businessman also drew public attention to his attire during the meeting, revealing that he wore a custom-made Dolce & Gabbana shirt valued at €12,000 and emblazoned with the image of a lion.

“It would be IMPOSSIBLE for you not to notice my €12,000 D&G custom-made shirt boldly inscribed with a LION, the UNDISPUTED KING of the jungle,” he wrote.

In a lengthy metaphorical passage, Chivayo likened President Mnangagwa to a lion whose presence commands authority and restores order.

“The LION does not campaign for relevance, but it COMMANDS respect just by its PRESENCE alone. When the lion is AWAY, some giraffes stretch their necks, even SNAKES slither out thinking the throne is vacant… But the moment the LION ROARS, even from a distance, all these animals scatter in different directions, RUNNING for their LIVES and order is instantly restored,” he stated.

He continued: “When the LION ROARS, silence returns and every creature retreats to where it BELONGS. It is always a GENTLE reminder that the KING was never replaced, only briefly out of sight. Mambo ndi MAMBO.”

Chivayo insisted that his analogy was not directed at any specific individuals, adding, “NB – This post has NOTHING to do with animals of the jungle.”

In an explicit show of political support, he concluded with the chant: “MOUDZANA UDZANA mese ikoko, 2030 ndeya Emmerson.”
The businessman also jokingly remarked about the timing of the photographs from the meeting, saying, “And by the way, The above pictures were taken on 9 February 2030.”

The meeting and accompanying social media post have sparked widespread discussion, particularly given Chivayo’s vocal endorsement of Mnangagwa’s continued leadership and the 2030 development agenda.